Blends & Old World

2015 Basic Black

Sonoma County Proprietary Red Wine

The 2015 Basic Black is loaded with complex undertones which interplay beautifully with exploding aromas of blackberry, violets, cocoa, cured ham, cinnamon and wet earth. Flavors of dark chocolate and dark fruits are integrated and proportioned across a foundation of dense mid palate tannins which lead to a long finish. For years it has been a goal of ours to find the right proportions of different fruit from different sites in order to produce a new Biale blend that displays the best of everything. Rather than a random mish mosh, this landmark 2015 wine is a co-fermented reserve blend of 32% Syrah, 22% Carignane, 15% Early Burgundy, 14% Tempranillo, 10% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah. Only 303 cases produced. Watch winemaker tasting notes.

Technical Information

Harvest Dates

September 3 & 5, 2015

Vintage Notes

Early harvest yields high quality wine grape crop. In spite of dry conditions, vintners are using words like “quality,” “complexity”, “ageability”, and “excellent” to describe their expectations for the 2015 vintage in Napa Valley. Harvest started and ended with record early dates.

Ageability

The lovely finish is the signature of this elegant, surprisingly feminine, and remarkably balanced red wine blend that is immediately drinkable and worthy of 5-7 years more.

2016 Nonna’s Vineyard

Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley Sangiovese

This wine is full of rustic red fruit aromas including Bing cherries, rhubarb, strawberries and plum as well as hints of chamomile and savory spice. Medium bodied with a clean and bright entry. Full textural tannins with nice acidity make this a perfect wine for pairing with food. What we’ve learned about Sangiovese is that it is prolific and needs to be kept in check. With that accomplished through some intensive farming, the wine takes on depth and complexity and vivid flavors. We’ve also found our Sangiovese to be cellar worthy – they age surprisingly well. Only 175 cases produced.

Technical Information

Harvest Dates

September 23, 2016

Vintage Notes

The 2016 growing season was near-perfect with an early start and ideal weather conditions throughout. A relatively steady and mild July and August and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness. The season wrapped up beautifully as the first significant fall rainstorm arrived on October 14th–just after the last of our grapes were picked.

2017 Rosato

California Rose

Vibrant bubblegum color with aromas of guava, watermelon jolly rancher, cherry blossoms, key lime, Bartlett pear, saline, chalk dust, fresh herb such as thyme and rosemary. There is a pleasing saliva-inducing tartness, and a savory gentle touch of red wine tannins. Best to drink in its first year of release, these bottles go fast as the seasons kick in! Only 180 cases produced.

Technical Information

Harvest Dates

August 28, 2017 (Sangiovese) and September 9, 2017 (Zinfandel)

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season was ideal for early ripening and early picked wines such as the Sangiovese fruit used to make this Rosato. The winter months and early spring saw some much needed rainfall which helped the vines to yield good quantities of fruit and vigorous foliage for sun protection.